All of this left the bandits utterly bewildered, astonished at the identity of this mysterious young man who could make the Eighteenth Great Bandit Wang Tian adopt such an expression.
In private, their suspicions ran wild.
Yet no matter what, they couldn't guess Ye Chen's true origins.
However, compared to that, another scene was even more bewildering, even laughable.
Because everyone saw that beside Wang Tian was a very strange draconic beast, only ten feet long, born with extraordinary divine vigor, standing upright on its hind legs in a human-like posture, positioned right beside the Great Bandit Wang Tian, walking shoulder-to-shoulder.
Moreover, this draconic beast was simply bizarre to the extreme. One of its thick, short claws was draped directly over Wang Tian's shoulder as it constantly shook its head, looking utterly ridiculous and comical. It kept asking Wang Tian: "I say, Brother Wang Tian, I'm this kid Ye Chen's boss. I believe you know about this relationship. I want to ask you some... personal questions."
Wang Tian looked suspiciously at the Corpse Devouring Insect Emperor, then at Ye Chen. Seeing his indifferent expression, and seemingly curious himself about what these so-called personal questions might be, he said, "Go ahead."
"Brother Wang Tian is indeed straightforward!"
The Corpse Devouring Insect Emperor laughed heartily, its appellation immediately changing to 'little brother,' which left Wang Tian speechless with frustration. However, facing this creature that had suddenly flown out from Ye Chen, he didn't dare show any disrespect, forcing an awkward smile.
But when he heard the question this dragon asked, he probably felt like dying: "So, Nephew Wang, you little fellow, you're considered a notable figure on the Plunder Heaven Plains, a generation of great bandits. Having mixed around for so many years, you must have lived a rather... distinctive life."
From 'brother' to 'little brother,' from 'little brother' to 'nephew,' from 'nephew' to 'little fellow'—the appellations kept changing. Wang Tian's expression grew gloomier by the moment. But if that was just frustrating, what came next was downright ugly.
They heard the Corpse Devouring Insect Emperor shaking its head as it said: "So, up till now, you old rascal, how many wives do you have? How many mistresses? How many lovers? By the way, are they good-looking? Are their breasts big? Are their butts perky? If they're not big or perky, I can lend a hand—perform the legendary Claw Wave Dragon Claw technique passed down from my ancestors, renowned throughout the myriad realms. I guarantee flat can become buns, buns can become papayas, and papayas can become melons. One grab, one success. Rest assured, the Dragon Claw technique is no empty boast."
"What? They're not in the city? What a pity, a real shame. Your esteemed wives, mistresses, and lovers will surely feel regretful. Take me to meet them later, I guarantee they'll be... delighted. You're not young anymore, you must have children, right? How old are they? Seventeen or eighteen? Tsk tsk, what a wonderful, blossoming age. I like it. Young fledglings are just right. At that age, they're probably still... untouched, hehe. Sons can roll off to the side, go die somewhere. Those daughters—are they each fresh and tender? Can you introduce a few? I've recently been researching some... academic propositions. I think I should take your daughters to bed, preferably a bed that can fit a dozen people, and incidentally research major life matters such as the 'happiness' of a certain little brother and so on. I wonder if you're willing, willing, or willing? I don't mind researching with mother and daughter together. More fun that way."
As it spoke, saliva started dripping from the mouth of this strange draconic beast, looking as lecherous as could be.
Heaven knows how dark and ugly Wang Tian's expression was. If not for Ye Chen's sake, he would have long since slapped it, skinned it, dismantled its bones, and pulled its dragon tendons. Why did it have to spout so much useless nonsense?
But that draconic beast seemed completely oblivious to Wang Tian's ugly expression, constantly baring its teeth and spouting big talk, making people watching feel both amused and exasperated, wanting to laugh but not daring to.
Ye Chen had long since turned his face away. He truly had no face to listen.
Finally, enduring the Corpse Devouring Insect Emperor's incessant chatter along the way, Wang Tian sped up. Leading Ye Chen, they flashed across tens of thousands of li, deep into the core region of the Plunder Heaven Plains, finally arriving at the ancient city under his control—Wind Heaven City.
The moment they returned to the city, Wang Tian immediately excused himself on urgent business, not wanting to continue being subjected to the Corpse Devouring Insect Emperor's boring nonsense buzzing in his ear. Otherwise, pushed beyond endurance, he'd probably feel like dying.
"Hey, hey, Wang Tian, you child, why run so fast? Be careful you don't have enough time to hold it in and end up dropping it mid-air," the Corpse Devouring Insect Emperor shouted loudly a few times. The guards on the city walls all heard, each staring dumbfounded at Wang Tian's departing figure, filled with astonishment.
"Shut up!"
Even Ye Chen couldn't endure its chatter anymore. He slapped it, a loud boom echoing as he sent it flying.
Wind Heaven City was built on an oasis amidst beautiful mountains and rivers. It wasn't very large, but not small either. Within the ancient city flowed a special, ancient Dao Rhyme.
That was the Dao Rhyme of the Mythical Epoch. It had long been rumored that Wind Heaven City was an ancient city rebuilt upon the ruins of the Mythical Epoch, and this was no falsehood.
Because Wang Tian had given the order, Ye Chen, bringing the Corpse Devouring Insect Emperor, was able to enter the city. Standing atop a tall building within the city, he could gaze into the distance at a colossal metropolis a thousand li away—a city so vast it seemed like a mythical true dragon lying dormant upon the earth: Dark Night City.
It was an astonishingly huge, majestic, and grand metropolis, no less impressive than Heavenly Saint City.
Moreover, the origins of Dark Night City were shockingly significant and far from simple.
Even from afar, one could see a colossal aura slowly emanating from Dark Night City. Even Ye Chen, a thousand li away, felt deeply solemn, deeply understanding that this Dark Night City was extremely extraordinary, its origins far from simple.
"Dark Night City was once the ancient city of a Sovereign from the Mythical Era," the Corpse Devouring Insect Emperor spoke up, seeming to know much about Dark Night City. "He was the Dark Night Sovereign, who personally founded this Sovereign's ancient city. It has remained undecaying for countless ages, indestructible through millennia, a grand metropolis that did not crumble even during the great cataclysm of the Mythical Era."
"Thinking of that Sun God from the Dragon Phoenix Academy, he has some connection to the Dark Night Sovereign. You should be careful," the Corpse Devouring Insect Emperor added after a pause.
Ye Chen raised a sword-like eyebrow, somewhat puzzled.
The Corpse Devouring Insect Emperor slowly explained: "The ancestor of the Sun God was the Sun Sovereign, also a Sovereign of the Mythical Era. According to certain rumors, the Sun Sovereign and the Dark Night Sovereign were actually a pair of brothers, or perhaps fellow disciples—one Yin, one Yang, closely related to each other. If the Sun God comes here, he might obtain some opportunity."
Ye Chen made a sound of surprise. He hadn't expected there to be such knowledge behind this.
"Then, could the Ancient God Domain have been the inner world opened by the Dark Night Sovereign?" Ye Chen suddenly asked.
"Not clear, but—" the Corpse Devouring Insect Emperor said something startling: "It's possible it was the Divine Domain opened by his master."